DBSC Tuesday Lasers Resume after Demanding Dun Laoghaire Regatta

15th July 2015

#dlregatta – There's no shortage of Laser racing on Dublin Bay this year after 16 entries contested 10 races over four days at VDLR, followed two days later by another couple of close-fought DBSC races. Lasers had their own start at the Regatta this time and joined a healthy total of 114 dinghies in 9 classes. We sailed on 3 different courses starting on the wavy South Bull course on Thursday, then Friday inside the Harbour, followed by 2 days in Seapoint Bay. Thank god the wind strength dipped as stamina levels drained away, not helped by long hours of serious socialising on the Waterfront ! Dan O'Connell, originally from Monkstown Bay Sailing Club, showed the way in the racing with seven first places in a very impressive, consistent display. Sean Craig just edged RStG club-mate Ross O'Leary for 2nd. Ross had a storming finish to the series and would have registered a hat-trick of closing race wins but for an OCS in Race 9. Marmelstein, Sellin, O'Hare and Sorgassi all produced fine individual race performances along with young Aoife Hopkins from Howth. A few couldn't sail all 4 days but that's just fine with a friendly, fun-based regatta like this.

Last night then served up a gentle summer breeze that meant no option for DBSC but to set up inside the Harbour. Without this vital contingency dinghy classes would have lost 70% of races this season. Fingers crossed that commonsense prevails and small-boat, low-budget sailors, racers and beginners will all still be able to enjoy a beautiful, safe and useable boating area. Craig took two race wins to wrap up a Series 2 win, pushed very close in both races by Patrick Cahill, who normally sails a Radial but uses Tuesdays to cut his teeth with the big sail. Patrick ends the series 2 nd overall just ahead of Luke Murphy, who this year has fully graduated from Radial to Full. Theo Lyttle and David Dwyer took third places in the two races yesterday evening. With 27 entries we expect strong turnouts to continue in Series 3, especially with the big focus on the Laser National Championships on August 20-23, coming to Dublin Bay and the National Yacht Club.

Published in Laser

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Published in Laser

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About the ILCA/Laser Dinghy

The ILCA, formerly known as the Laser, is the most produced boat in the world, with 220,000 units built since 1971.

It's easy to see why the single-handed dinghy has won the title of the most widely distributed boat of all time.

The Laser is a one-design dinghy, the hulls being identical but three rigs that can be used according to the size and weight of the sailor.

The class is international, with sailors from 120 countries. The boat has also been an Olympic class since 1996, being both the men's and women's singlehanded dinghy.

Three rigs are recognised by the International Laser Class Association (ILCA):